Hey, everybody! I have been building my hand tool arsenal up for a while and would like to build a antique style toolbox to hold them in. If anyone has any links or plans for a antique style toolbox it would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan
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Replies
Try Jim Tolpins "The toolbox Book". Franklin H. Gottshall's "Furniture of Pine Poplar, and Maple" has two tool cabinet plans. One is wall hung and the other is freestanding. Roy Underhill made a six board tool chest on his show but few people have access to boards that wide.
There are some plans for what I think you're looking for here:
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=plansnow&query=tool+chest&sp-a=0003132d-sp0000000a&SEARCH.x=0&SEARCH.y=0&SEARCH=SEARCH
Edited 8/25/2005 9:05 am ET by OldMan
I'd rather buy Jim Toplin's "Toolbox book" and maybe FWW's "Desinging Furniture" and then make my own plans instead of BUYING someone else plans.
Well, good for you. I simply offered it as an option to his post.
Many of the antique tool boxes were a chest type design with a series of trays and compartments inside. They were handy for moving from location to location if you could get some strong helpers to carry it. I used a chest type box for years but always found digging through them was a pain. I'd have to pull out several trays to get to what was below. If you're not an itinerant woodworker, some of the drawer type storage boxes are much easier to access. I also have a machinist type chest but I have to lift the lid in order to release the drawer locks. This is also a bit inconvenient. I have a picture of an antique chest that is from the Dominy shop with a display of the tools it contained. One thing to be careful about with drawer chests, is that they can tip over if too many drawers get opened at the same time.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
THanks for the help
Great post!-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Looks like a vary nice display. A few years ago my wife bought a chest like yours and it is full of old molding planes also old drill bits and some other things, they are all in good shape and I was wondering if they are worth anything.
Thanks [email protected]
Hey Knothole, sorry to jump in. Those old planes are just junk, as are the drill bits, so for safe disposal, send em to me! J/K
Some old molding planes are very rare, and therefore pricey. If you've got an ivory tipped center wheel plow, please let me know!
Steve
Hi Knothole, just got back in the US and read your post. The chest in the picture is in a museum display and I think it is from the famous Dominy shop of the 17th century. Your old molding planes could be worth a few bucks. Condition is important and certain makers command higher prices. Many of the old wooden planes sell for between $30 - $175 but there are exceptions that can go for much more. Matching sets that haven't been tampered with or had the knife profiles poorly sharpened are quite desirable. Any chance you could post some pictures?Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
The chest and all it contents are buried out in the shop, I will try to dig it out in the next few weeks and post some pictures. Thanks for your intrest.
[email protected]
When it comes to storage, I prefer simple, useful, and cheap. I seem to wear out boxes to fast. This is my favorite style, usually use some scrap poplar, or oak. I have about 4 different sizes. Oldy, but goody
Are you looking for a place to store your tools in the shop -- or a tool box that you can carry around with you to wherever you're working?
If the latter, I wish I had a camera to show you some of the tool carriers I made over the years -- some were simple, many were fairly elaborate, and if I do say so myself, there were some interesting innovations in some.
However, I gave up my quest for the perfect self-built tool carrier about a year ago, when I bought a Veto Pro Pac:
http://www.vetopropac.com/xl.html
For schlepping your hand tools to a job site (miles away or up to your second floor), the thing is brilliantly designed, compact, and virtually indestructible. And even though it's not light when fully loaded, it is still lighter and easier to transport than any tool carrier I could come up with
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Edited 8/26/2005 7:08 pm ET by nikkiwood
I want to buy one of the propac bags, but when I found out it wasn't made in the US I kept looking. I am still really tempted. Do you use it a lot?
Dustin T
<<" I want to buy one of the propac bags, but when I found out it wasn't made in the US I kept looking. I am still really tempted. Do you use it a lot?">>I use it just about every day, and as I said in my original post, I thik it is a brilliant design and extremely well made. I have the XL model which is just the right size for what I need; it carries all my hand tools, and I have a different bag for stuff like cordless drills, etc. They make a bigger model (the XXL), and I ordered one, thinking it would accommodate my cordless stuff. But it didn't, so I returned it in favor of the XL.The pickins' must be pretty slim for you these days if you are only buying tools made in the US.........................................................................********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I don't really buy tools that are strictly made in the US. I was just hoping that the bag was made in the US, since the designer is from Maine (where I am from as well). I guess it was just wishful thinking. I wasn't bashing you or the product at all.
Dustin
I can chime in with Nikki here. I have the Veto XXL and I think it is the closest thing to being "it", but I use it for jobsite tools. Everyday woodworking handtools (chisels, planes, marking tools) are on the wall in front of my bench. Like another poster said, I use my tools, but I use them in the shop and never take them anywhere else so I want them stored where I can get them immediately and also put them back just as easily. This has really reduced the clutter in my shop (not that one could tell, but trust me.)
Personally I feel that frequently used shop tools (bench tools, if you will) are better stored in the open. I built many a tool box/chest/etc. before I figred it out, but that's just me.
If you are looking to purchase what could be the perfect tool carrier (for hand tools anyway), I think the Veto would satisfy.
I suspect this post may have been a bit of a hijack, so I apologize.Maybe someday I'll know a little something.
<<" I wasn't bashing you or the product at all.">>I know that..................... and I think many of us are wistful for the days when the best stuff was made in the USA.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
but when I found out it wasn't made in the US I kept looking???Gee we lost almost all our Manufacturing! NOT that, that is good!
However, I gave up my quest for the perfect self-built tool carrier about a year ago, when I bought a Veto Pro Pac:http://www.vetopropac.com/xl.html
Now, when you buy this bag, does it come with a little gnome that puts all the tools back in? I would love any bag or toolbox system as long as I could get the tools back in and not have them end up on the workbench/kitchen table/ladder/garage floor/night stand/bathroom sink/front seat of the car/back pocket/neighbor's house/home depot parking lot/roof/etc... (come on, you've all been there)
No, the Veto bag didn't come with a little gnome to make sure everything is placed back in the bag after use ................... alas..........********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Ryan,
This is of course personal preference, but I think you'd be more pleased by just organizing your current shop. I am a hand tool collector, user and packrat, (about 200 planes, 30 saws, countless chisels....) and I thought that the old tyme tool chest would be just the thing. I found an old early 19th century version in OK shape on a local auction, and got one heck of a deal on it. It's got a saw till, six sliding drawers and a bunch of space besides. Its well made, and works to STORE tools. Problem is, I use mine, and to agree with Hammer, it is a royal pain in the (@#$ to dig through three layers of drawers to get to the seldom used cutting gauge or whatever that lives on the bottom layer. It looks great, but another problem is that it is a floorspace hog. I've actually parked it under my outfeed table on the TS and just store the rare collecter stuff in it.
I just use shelves, tills, and racks strategically placed around my bench now, and it is a far easier way to keep your tools accesible. If you want one, by all means, have fun, but.....
Dirtstirrer,
I think i will try and organize my puny 8x12' could help a little...lol. thanks for all the help and suggestions every one else
Ryan
Hey look at the plus side, everything is always within reach, and remember, size isn't so important as how you use it! I don't think John and Thomas Seymour made anything that wouldn't fit in 8x12.
Steve
is a royal pain in the (@#$ to dig through three layers of drawers to get to the seldom used cutting gauge or whatever that lives on the bottom layer. LOL LOL LOL.. I CAN relate to that... I have one for my metal working measuring tools... I do not use that much anymore... But I still can find stuff.. Well, if I did not have to much Jack Daniels and I got 40 years experience of where they are!
And you know how good of an idea those boxes seemed when you got em.
I bought a new house a year ago, so my shop moved. I'm just now finally getting used to where things go. I takes a while dosen't it? I think your 40 years would probably be a good start! Speaking of metal working tools, I'm embarrased to say my Starrett and Brown and Sharp gadgets are still living in a cardboard box. One of these days I'll get that French fitted rack done for them. Have a good day,
Steve
I'm embarrased to say my Starrett and Brown and Sharp gadgets are still living in a cardboard box. WHY? I have that and the box all stained with oil and nothin' rusts!
Good point Will. Not the most attractive way to store the coolest tools in the shop though. Kind of a pain to dig through the pile too.
I finally got around to a good way to store some of my saws the other day. My wife was looking at the haphazard bar clamp and dowel contraption above my bench, and said, why don't you store those like we do knives at the restaurant? Slots in a work table is what she meant. Thats why I married her, she's amazing. Using her idea, I came up with a handy little rack that holds about 20 hand saws and two back saws all right there in easy reach by the bench. I used a 1x12 about 3 feet long, so it dosen't take up much room either.
Now I need her to come up with an idea for the blasted veneer.
Steve
I've attached a photo of a storebought tool box that may fit your needs; I don't recall who sells it, as I saved the picture as a starting point for my own design. If you want to buy one, a Google search is bound to turn up lots of ready-made stuff.
Good luck,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Ryan - I don't know if this is what you have in mind. It was my Grandfather's, but when my father took it off the wall those many years ago it was pretty much devoid of tools. I'm still trying to guess how "Poppie" filled it.
View Image
View Image
I guess that will fix it! It's got some new/old stuff in it since I took these pictures.
Edited 8/28/2005 10:24 pm ET by EdHarrow
Hey Ed your picture links arent showing up would you mind repostind them??
An oldy but a goody. Built this over 20 years ago.
View Image
Edited 8/28/2005 10:59 pm ET by jagwah
Well done, Jagwah. On those occasions when you've had to move it, how many men does has it taken to move in and out of a truck bed?-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I have a ramp to push it it. Just don't get in front of me when it comes out!
An argument in favor of steel-toed safety shoes if there ever was one!-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
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